II Squadron RAF Regiment, based at RAF Brize Norton, were honoured to host a visit by Mr Raymond Hill, a veteran of Number 2 Armoured Car Company (No.2 ACC), the forerunner for II Squadron RAF Regiment.
Mr Hill served on No. 2 ACC in the 1950s and was accompanied on his visit by Group Captain (Ret’d) Jamie Kendall, a former Officer Commanding of II Squadron.
The visit provided the Squadron a rare and fascinating opportunity to hear first-hand the experiences of a veteran from the years prior to the Squadron becoming a Field Squadron. II Squadron displayed some of the kit and equipment in current service such as weapons, Night Vision Devices and clothing. Also on display were many of the Squadron's historical artefacts Mr Hill had built himself whilst serving. Flight Lieutenant ‘Bats’ Barrett’s cask was also present, a pertinent figure of the Squadron’s history, who Mr Hill has close links to.
Officer Commanding II Squadron RAF Regiment, Squadron Leader Butler, said:
“Mr Hill is a veteran of No. 2 Armoured Car Company, the provenance of II Squadron RAF Regiment prior to becoming an Airborne Field Squadron. His visit to the Squadron at RAF Brize Norton has been a rare and fascinating opportunity to hear first-hand the experiences of Mr Hill. Investing in our culture by maintaining links to our Squadron’s history is extremely important to us and visits like this provide a real boost to morale and esprit de corps. It was also a pleasure to display the models that Mr Hill produced himself in the early 1950s and thanks to a donation from the Centurion Fund, our Squadron Chef baked a cake to celebrate his 93rd birthday.”
Squadron Leader Butler
Officer Commanding II Squadron
RAF Regiment
The Squadron also benefitted from a donation from the Centurion Fund, this allowed the Squadron Chef to bake a cake for Mr Hill, who’s 93rd birthday is in a couple of weeks.
